Improvement in steam-generators



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JAMES HOWARD AND EDWD.- TENNEY BOUSFIELD, OF BEDFORD, COUNTY OF BEDFORD, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-G ENERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,147, dated October 23, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMEs HOWARD and EDWARD TENNEY BoUsFIELD, of Bedford, in the county of Bedford and Kingdom of England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Boilers and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel arrangement of water-tube steam-boilers, whereby at a comparatively small cost great structural strength with an extended heating-surface are obtained. The boiler is constructed of a series of sections of vertical tubes, and these sections are connected and grouped together, using. any given number of groups according to thev requirements of the engine which the boiler is intended to supply with steam.

In the accompanying plates of drawings, Figure 1, Plate 1, is a plan or top view of-our improved boiler 5 and Fig. 2, same plate, a longitudinal vertical section ofthe same, taken in the plane of the line 1 2, Fig. `1. Fig. 3, Plate2, is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 5 6, Fig. 2, Plate 1. Fig. 4, Plate 2, a transverse vertical section taken inthe plane of the line 3 4, Fig. 2, Plate 1. Fig. 5, Plate 2, an enlarged detail view, to be hereinafter referred to. Figs. 6 and 7, Plate 3, respectively, a plan and a transverse vertical section of our improved boiler, showing some slight modifications in the construction ofthe same, which willbe hereinafter particularly referred to. Fig. 8, Plate 2, shows a modification of the mode of connecting the vertical and horizontal pipes.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts." i

ln the several figures above recited it will be seen by an inspection of the same that the boiler is inclosed in brick-work or other masonry, except at the top, where it is intended to cover it with sand or loam, or with any other substance or material which will prevent the radiation of heat through it.

Each section z of the boiler is formed of a row or series of vertical parallel tubes, a, made of Wrought-iron, brass, or other suitable met-al or other material, which tubes c of each section are connected or joined together at top and bottom by transverse tubes b and c, respectively. These transverse tubes b and c are each cast or provided with similar annular grooves, a2, at the proper points of the same to receive, respectively, the upper and lower ends of the vertical tubes a., as fully and plainly shown in Fig. 5 of Plate 2of the drawings.

The ends of the tubes b and o are closed, and they are severally connected together, but at alternate ends, as shown in Fig. 1, Plate 1, by short flanged necks b2 c2, respectively, thereby establishing a connection between the several vertical tubes and their transverse tubes b, and consequently allowing a free circulation of water and steam through the boiler.

The sections z of the boiler, formed as above explained, we prefer to arrange in groups of three, with sufficient space between the groups, as shown at A, Fig. 2, Plate l, to allow of the attendant or engineer entering between them for. the purpose of cleaning or repairing the tubes or any other portion of the boiler.

Between the several tubes b and c, hereinbefore referred to, plates fl are secured, ex-

tending in the direction of their length, which plates constitute the top and bottom of the heating-chamber Y, the sides of which are formed by the inclosing or surrounding brickwork B B. This heating-chamber Y is in direct communication with the tire-place C, the fire-blick arch of which we prefer to place a little belowthe water-line, in order that it may deiiect and throw the flame upon the tubes et below said water-level. l

The vertical tubes a are held securely in the annular grooves of the horizontal tubes b and c by means of rods e, which pass down through the centers of the vertical tubes, and are secured at their extremities or ends to the tubes b and c by a screw-nut, f, at one or both ends or by upsetting or riveting their ends.

To allow for the unequal contraction and expansion of the different parts composing our improved boiler, and to make a reliable steam and water tight joint, elastic rings made of vulcanized india-rubber, or of other suitable material, are inserted in the annular grooves a2 of the transverse pipes b and c. (See 5, Plate 1.) In coupling together the sections the short flanged necks or couplings b2 c2, before mentioned, form longitudinal tubes, and it is from one or the other of the lower of these tubesthatwater is supplied to the boiler, while from one or the other ot' the tubes the steam is taken ofi', as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, Plate 2.

The vertical tubes a may be made of castiron and connected to the horizontal tubes b and c, as shown in Fig. 8, Plate 2. a5 rep# resents a short wrought-iron section, screwed into one end of each of the said vertical tubes and into the adjacent part of one horizontal tube, c. f5 represents a lian ge cast upon the tube a, and b5 b5 bolts by which it is screwed to the other horizontal tube, b.

To prevent the burning of the upper parts of the sections which form both `the steamspace and the superheater, these parts are protected from the flame of the furnace above the water-line by a series of screens, f, which we prefer to form of lire-brick; but they may consist of castiron plates, andare inserted between the vertical tubes, where they are to be secured and held by bolts and nuts, or in any other proper manner. These screensf, while protecting the upper part of the sections Z from the direct action of" the flame, still allow the heated gases to circulate to such an extent around the tubes as to superheat the steam contained in their steam-spaces.

In lieu of using the screens f for the purpose of directing the current ofthe flame and heated gases, the tubes may, at their upper ends, be enlarged in diameter, so as to present no opening between them for the flame to pass through and it may be well to here state that in some cases we may also prefer to arrange the vertical tubes in such a manner that those of one section will face or be opposite to the spaces in the next adjoining section, thus to some extent retarding the passage of the llame and heated gases.

The heated gases as they pass over the bridge of the lire-place impinge upon the first row of tubes, and passing between them circulate through the heatingchamber, from which they finally escape at the opening g in the oor of the chamber, passing back below the chamber to the front ofthe boiler through the space X, which is divided longitudinally by a wall, h, when, having reached the end of this wall h, they double back, and again pass ing under the boiler make their exit or escape to the tlue connected with the furnace-chimney of the arched opening t', Fig. 2, Plate 1.

From the above description it is plain to be understood that the objection hitherto raised to boilers formed of portions coupled together by tie-rods is entirely removed or obviated, as the tube joints or junctions are not exposed to the action of the liame, and are not therefore liable to injury or to become leaky.

By the modifications particularly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of Plate 3 of the drawings, which will be soon described, -the object sought to be obtained is to facilitate the removal of any one of the sections from the inclosing walls of the boiler, for repairing the same.

To secure this object we interpose between the top or upper transverse tubes and the longitudinal steam-pipe E4 short pipes A4, in which an annular groove, a4, is cast or made. The annular groove a4 is intended to receive a short coupling-tube, B4, to connect the pipe A4 with the transverse pipe C4. The end a5 ot' the pipe A4 tits into an annular groove cast in the steam-pipe E4. The parts A4, B4, and C4 of every section are held rmly together by the end tie-rods F4, which rods pass up, as explained for the tie-rods e, and through the center of the vertical tubes, and extend through the pipes A4, and are there secured by nuts f4. A second and shorter rod, F5, is used to couple each pipe with the longitudinal steampipe E4, and this rod is secured at either end by nuts fitting upon its screwed ends. The

rod F4 is looped to allow of the rod F5 pass ing it.

AThe waterspace of the several sections is connected by a longitudinal pipe, H4, cast with an annular groove to receive coupling tubes 14, which are similarly inserted in the lower transverse tubes, G5. The inner ends of the tie-rods F5 are secured to lugs attached to the inner face of the longitudinal pipe H4 by means of pins, and the rods passing up the Vertical tubes and through the transverse tubes G4 are secured by nuts, as before explained.

If now it is desired to detach one of the sections from the others for repairs, it is only necessary to remove the nuts of the vertical end tierods and to remove a nut which will allow for the withdrawal of the short tie rod F5, when the short pipe A4 may then be sprung out of its annular groove inthe steam-pipe E4, thus leaving the section free to be removed or withdrawn vertically from the brick inclosure of the boiler, as is obvious without any further explanation.

Having thus described our invention, what,`

we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A series of tubes, a b c, coupled and connected substantially as represented in Fig. 8, for the purpose set forth.

2. Arranging the sections of tubes substantially as herein described, to give access to the heating-chamber. Y 3. The screens f, for directing the currents of heated gases and for allowing a free circulation of heat around the upper part of the sections of tubes, substantially as and for the purpose described.

JAMES HOWARD. [1.. 5.] ED'WARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD. [1.. s.]. Witnesses:

FRED. WALKDEN, 66 Chancery Lane, London. Enwn. N. HoBBs, l 2 Popes Headvfl'lley, Oornhz'll, Loudon, Gent. 

